Genetic and cytological diversity in cherry tree accessions ( Eugenia involucrata DC) in Rio Grande do Sul

Divanilde Guerra,Claudio André Werlang,Sérgio Francisco Schwarz,Paulo Vitor Dutra De Souza,Pedro Augusto Veit,Maria Teresa Schifino-Wittmann

doi:10.1590/1984-70332016v16n3a33

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the genetic and cytological diversity and stability of 35 cherry tree accessions collected in Rio Grande do Sul. We used 15 RAPD (Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA) molecular markers and performed cytological analysis and number count of anthers. Analyses of genetic diversity allowed the separation of accessions into four groups, resulting in an average of 8.93 bands per primer amplified, 7.89 polymorphic bands, 88.08% of polymorphism and 86% of genetic similarity. Cytological analyses of gametic cells allowed for the characterization of accessions as diploids with n=11. In these, the average of meiotic cells considered normal was 82.12%; average pollen viability was 92.44% and in vitro germination was 40.26%; the average number of anthers was 161.85 anthers/flowers. Therefore, the accessions evaluated showed high genetic similarity and cytological stability and can be used in commercial plantations or hybridizations.

Highlights

The Myrtaceae Family is one of the largest plant families with around 3600 species in 150 genera and is distributed in different environments throughout tropical, subtropical and temperate regions, highlighting its wide adaptive power (Landrum and Kawasaki 1997, Romagnolo and Souza 2004)
The genus Eugenia is one of the most representatives since it consists of about 1000 species distributed mainly throughout Central and South America, with more than 350 native species in Brazil (Landrum and Kawasaki 1997)
The cherry tree (Eugenia involucrata DC.) is a native species of southern Brazil, belonging to the genus Eugenia and can be found from Minas Gerais to Rio Grande do Sul in forest formations of the Atlantic complex and in the forests and savannas of the Paraná basin (Donadio et al 2004). It occurs in Mato Grosso do Sul, Minas Gerais and Goiás and in other countries of South America (Rodrigues and Carvalho 2001)

Summary

Introduction

The Myrtaceae Family is one of the largest plant families with around 3600 species in 150 genera and is distributed in different environments throughout tropical, subtropical and temperate regions, highlighting its wide adaptive power (Landrum and Kawasaki 1997, Romagnolo and Souza 2004). The cherry tree (Eugenia involucrata DC.) is a native species of southern Brazil, belonging to the genus Eugenia and can be found from Minas Gerais to Rio Grande do Sul in forest formations of the Atlantic complex and in the forests and savannas of the Paraná basin (Donadio et al 2004). It occurs in Mato Grosso do Sul, Minas Gerais and Goiás and in other countries of South America (Rodrigues and Carvalho 2001). The fruit have commercial potential and can be consumed fresh or processed in the Received: 22 December 2015 Accepted: 04 June 2016

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